This activity is beneficial for the cruise lines that chose Philadelphia too, since 92 percent of all passengers were first-time or infrequent cruisers (those that have cruised less than twice in the past three years) lured to the seas by the availability of cruises in their own back yard.
A survey of 2003 passengers commissioned by the PPC and conducted by Business Research and Economic Advisors details the extent of the economic impact on the Philadelphia region. And, it paints a rosy picture for 2004, when cruises departing from the terminal will climb to 22, with nine port calls.
Cruise passengers chose Philadelphia because it was close to where they live: 69% were from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 14.4% other Northeast and 17% from the South, Midwest or West.
The availability of cruises in the Philadelphia market resulted in a high percentage (36%) of first-time cruisers and a high percentage (56%) of infrequent cruisers.
The majority of passengers (53%) purchased pre- or post-cruise lodging, with the remaining 47% either coming in for the day or staying with friends and relatives.
Exclusive of the cost of the cruise, the average cruise party spent $226 for lodging, food, clothing, transit, etc. Based on an average party of 2.4 people, passengers contributed $2,712,000 in direct regional spending and $4.2 million in employment income.
Overall, port-call cruise passengers visited approximately 50 different venues while in the area, with the average visitor going to 2.25 places in the region. The most popular tours last year were Scenes of Philadelphia, Amish Country, Historic Philadelphia, Philadelphia Walking Tour, King of Prussia Mall, Franklin Mills Mall, Longwood Gardens and QVC.
Three-fourths (76%) of cruise passengers said they were likely to return to Philadelphia within the next three years for a non-cruise visit.
More than 61,600 people are expected to pass through the cruise terminal in 2004 and cruise activity is expected to generate $16 million in business revenue and $4.5 million in employment income.
"The research proves that CruisePhilly is a great opportunity to bring more people into the region," says Melissa Grimm, director of the PPC. "We know that people are traveling closer to home and the convenience and affordability of cruising from Philadelphia gives us a great opportunity to tap the more than 63 million people who live within a 5.5-hour drive from Philadelphia. More cruise visitors translates into more jobs and income at the Port and at the surrounding attractions and hotels. It’s really a win-win situation."
For information on cruising from Philadelphia, visit www.cruisephilly.com or call (856) 968-2052. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676, or visit www.gophila.com.
